Vincent Cassel, Hubert Koundé and Saïd Taghmaoui star in La Haine
On a cloudy Thursday, April 26 2012, Multi-Arts TRaC piled into the Sony Wonder Lab to view the 1995 French film “La Haine,” directed by Matthieu Kassovitz. The title of this movie translates to “The Hate,” and this movie clearly displayed this message. This story is centered on three friends, Vince, Said, and Hubert, who live the street gang life with trouble always attracting them. The group travels around France collecting money, chasing down the police and running away from them, getting beat, arguing over little things, and just not giving a care in the world about anything they did or didn’t do. As the movie goes on, you grow attached to these characters and although they live in such similar settings, you can see that each of them is different. Vince likes to act tough all the time, Said is very immature, and Hubert wants to be the responsible one and escape the ghetto setting. You grow attached to the characters and follow their tragic lives, which they have little hope in escaping. Through about a 36 hour time lapse, they escape the police and defy the rules to make a point within the community. One of the points they want to make is mistreatment by the police.
However, after beginning to accept the characters, the ending arrives and then BOOM. Silence. The ending of the movie just leaves you speechless [click to continue….]
Tagged as:
La Haine,
Matthieu Kassovitz,
Sony Wonder Technology Lab
Batsheva Dance Company performed at BAM this spring.
BAM Howard Gilman Opera House on March 8th was filled with silence as everyone focused on the dancers of the Batsheva Dance Company . The high altitude of the orchestra seats might scare you, however, when looking at the ceiling, the thoughts of pecan pie come to mind. The lights shut off and you stare into the black space around you. As Hora begins, a bright green stage, built like a cardboard box, becomes the center of focus as dancers walk gracefully onstage to sit on a bench. Black colored clothing was the theme presenting a calm yet ecstatic environment from the bright stage. Once the performers walk off the bench, it’s an hour filled with precise movements, with or without the music, and the colorful moves of their body. Arms flail around and legs swish in the air as I try to decipher what is going on. The first musical piece I recognize is the Star Wars “Main Title” [click to continue….]
Tagged as:
BAM Howard Gilman Opera House,
Batsheva Dance Company,
Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM),
Hora,
Ohad Naharin
Rivane Neuenschwander, A Day Like Any Other, 2008.
I went to the New Museum for the first time ever with a thought that it would be like regular museums, filled with rare paintings from the past. However, as I stepped in this building, which reminded me of a decorative cake, a different mood entered my mind. It was a very open space with white walls. Up ahead, there was a room of different colored strands. It was amazing to see that. For a museum, my first impression was a good one. Even the elevator gave you a good vibe.
When you look at these pieces of art, you may say something like ‘No way, this is unbelievable!’ The response to that is on the front of the building. Hell, Yes! [click to continue….]
Tagged as:
A Day Like Any Other,
Brion Gysin,
Dream Machine,
New Museum,
Rivane Neuenschwander
